How Hillary Clinton overcame the challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders. Hillary Clinton greets supporters during a rally at Long Beach City College on the final day of California campaigning. Photo: Jonathan Alcorn/AFP/Getty Images.
Without the rule, offensive players could hover near their opponents' goal even when the play is on the other side of the field, with the hope of a long pass and an easy goal. The offside rule applies at the moment the ball is touched or passed, not when the ball is received.
A common strategy for the defensive team is to play what is called an offside trap, in which the defenders try to draw the opponent offside by running forward right before a potential pass, thereby causing the furthest forward offensive player to be closer to the goal line than the second-to-last defender.